Indianapolis fire inspection fees spark outcry

6:55 PM,
Mar. 1, 2013

Joan Miller, president of the Greater Southport Business Alliance.

Written by

A newly aggressive fire safety program that includes the addition of annual inspection fees has prompted an outcry from some Indianapolis small business owners.

The new fees for Indianapolis Fire Department inspections range from $50 to $150, depending on a structure's size, and were designed to cover the costs of IFD's inspection program. Beyond that, IFD is offering owners and tenants of low-risk properties an alternative that state officials say is new in Indiana: self-inspection.

Submitting a self-inspection form will cost $25, half the cost of the cheapest fee for an in-person ...